4 THE CHICAGO TBfBUNE : WEDNESDAY. KOYEflB biraga <£riimiu. ..tliOO . . 2.50 w>o denting with all soeh eases Our left to the discretion of partir siple inspectors of election^ S,U_.JU A MIGHT r A ht not to be jtu or umespon- SANITARY MATTERS We have been fur « . _ p « e j * m w * » * ^ ' " " Fll III Mil Edition, P*r f « * **?**' Band&y Edition, p«r J«w. » l t u t - WM&IT mHnv^rwegy—r« 6r«*ii» Parte • f * 7 * * - u " « M n e r * t e - - ^ ^ t delay and, i^tska*, » « « « • » • ftrsPoa* *Mb» address In mil awmdtag State and eonntr. B ^ t t a a - . aw* * • « • * • * » • * * • " * i T T ^PosToato. o«ter, or to raftered letters, at our risk. ©any, aelvrerad, Sunday exoajteo, S cente » « wf jek. Daily delivered, Sunday included,» cents par week. A d d rets «HE TRiaVNB COMPANY, Now » Canalst. Chica*o, & WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBEB Z>. MH. WJSJrtBD-A PUBLIC LIBRARY. ' Qn the mwrtdng preceding the great tire, T H E TRIBI'XK published an appeal for a free public library in Chicago. It was one of several such appeals, in which we announced an intention to keep the subject before the public until the great desideratum should be supplied. The terrible events which have since ensued have rather reinforced fcuchan appeal than otherwise. Chicago's need of a free public library is much greater than before the fire, and, w e are glad to add, the possibilities of soon obtaining one are also greater than before* The sources from which great public libraries, of the kind pro- posed, are obtained are tlj municipal appropriations, which need not be lavish in amount, and (3) private munificence, which has always been found prolific in valuable contributions to any public library which is fowfl Me public-that is, free to all. To show what can be done with publishers, we have o u l y t o e i t e t i e account given in these col- umns, a few days ago, of the collection of over yo.OGO volumes by one gentleman, who passed around among the American publishers and booksellers. And we now have a fresh in- stance ef the feelingrefarred to, in the action of certain British friends of America, toward raising a noble contribution of books for a free Chicago library. In London there is an Anglo-American Association, presided over by Thomas Hughes. M. P., and composed of phil- Americanists like himself. At a receut meet- ing of this society a lecture was given (the flrst of a similar course* by Mr. Justin McCarthy, on "Chicago and the Prairie Country." The lecturer was introduced by Jdx. Hughes, who, in his preliminary speech. stated the details of a plan which he is pur- suing* with great energy and efficiency for the replenishing of the " great free library;1 destroyed at Chicago. This plan is to secure from each living British author a copy of each volume of his works ; while the deficit of contemporaneous literature and the necessary proportion of classical and stand- ard works should be made up by publishers and individual contributions. The Anglo- American Association has taken this matter in hand, and will work in conjunction with Mr. Burgess, the originator of the scheme, for the forwarding of the noble work. Mr. Hughes has already corresponded with Thom- as Carlyle. Mr. Disraeli, and other distin- guished authors, with" decided success. Mr. Carljle grumbled, as his constitution com- pelled him to do, but wound up by saying: " A copy of my books shall not, by any means, be wanting." Mr. Tom Taylor, the humorist and dramatist, promises complete files of Puses, and the principal publishers, including Macmillan, Murray, and Bmith & Elder, have agreed to contribute liberally from their shelves. The generous founders and forwarders of this movement are entitled to the heartfelt gratitude of the Chicago public, and to even an increase of the popularity which they have already achieved in America. Mean- time, the question occurs, What disposition shall be made of the gift from our English friends, when it shall arrive! Certainly Chicago was never so much in need of a good public library as at present; and never was there se much need that the books which we shall be able to accumulate be so placed before the public as to benefit the greatest number of readers. Private libraries b y the thousand have been swept out of ex- istence, and, a t the same time, have perished the means for replenishing them. Other means of mental occupation and recreation have also been destroyed; so that the greatest demand for reading matter and books of reference comes at a time when the supply of such is almost entirely cut ofi". I t is clear that the contributions of our Eng- lish friends, and of others who may emulate their liberality, will be particularly wel- come ; and it is also clear that these benefits can be utilized to the best advantage only through the medium of a consolidated public library, taken care of by the city, and accessible to all citizens without charge. The means of accomplishing so desirable a rcouit are. fortunately, not difficult. A bill is already before w><» State Legislature au- thorising municipal governments appTopiiations for the purpose of establishing publk libraries, and it will undoubtedly be- come a law within a few weeks. This will enable Chicago to organize a free library oa the same plan as that by which Boston has made her free library the bast oo Hoot ion in America, and the strongest, numerically, ex- cept the Congressional Library at Washing tea. An appropriation of twenty or t w e n t y live thousand dollars, or even less, with suitable plans and regulations, would be all that would be reouired to carry the enter- prise into effect. #aMulords would compete actively for the privilege of furnishing room to so publican tnstilotion, and men of wealth and letters would soon be vieing with each other in contributing books, manuscripts, pamphlets—whole libraries—to the public fund. The Boston Library has seen enrich- ed, atace its foundation, by several very choice private collections, turned ever bodi- ly to it because of its stable and public char- acter. The same would be the case with » Chicago library which could, by virtue of its plan and management, secure the conti- nents of the Chicago public, and be adopted as the library of the city. Especially might the city, with such an organization formed, profit largely by the generous sentiment now prevailing toward her throughout the civil- ized world. ATTEBZSCK niahed a statement of the present conditio- ^ o f t b e R o g e r W i U i a m s , n_ r^%b T P • • * o f Frortdeaeo, Ehode Is- A lit lhQ rcompany had filed with the State Auditor f jgH-orti statement of its condition on the o l g t o f December last, which state- ment w e pompm-e-w-jfi, the one prepared for IPfj present emergency: AASBTS. Jan. I, *7l Caah onhand * 3*,585 Cash in hands of agents....... tf.wo Duo *or premiums 4,105 A .c » HTJWtnY XJLPRESBNTATI01I. One of the duties of the Legislature is to pass a new law, regulating the manner of voting, and of counting the votes, for Repre- sentatives iu the General Assembly. The new coust itut ion provides for the apportionment of the State into Senatorial Districts; and the election of three Repre- sentatives in each district; and, also, that " i n t i l elections of Representatives aforesaid, each Qualified voter may cast as many votes foi one candidate as there are Representatives to be elected, or may dis- tribute the same, or equal parts thereof, among the candidates as he shall see fit; and the candidates highest in votes shall be de- clared elected." This is the law of the State, and the elec- tion must be held under it. But there ought t o tma»awlegislation to give it effect. For instance, there engbj to be some prescribed, uniform rule, for the tJeeignatian by the voter e* the division of bin three votes. Each voter will be entitled to oast three ot es for Representative. He camgfve all three votes for one candidate, o r U f o for one can- didate and one for anGtherfor he cau give one vote eaeh to three candidates. What legislature must de, i s t o pro ride by law the mode in whtoh Hols designation shall be made. This mode ought to be uniform, Prt>vfek>tt ' A o a l d atm be made for the prof«B,l®»ntiat ef bn^leta\ when the voter sioidsuMllyi or ignojaatly, designates more votes than he is entitled -4e>' give, aei for Instance, when he deposits a ballot with three names upon it with a designation of two or three votes for one candidate, without erasing the other names. There ought to be a uniform rule for the government of the inspectors in such cases, either requiring the rejection of the whole ballot, or counting one vote for each candidate, ox requiring the three votes h»*tje counted as directed and the others rejejbted. Al the first skctten, a a d n n t a this-mode of balloting befonies familiar, there i will be man}' such mistakes made. The jealousy off candidates will induce complicated%aniptt» lations of the divisions of the votes and. the Nov., 11. 9 26,781 1,720 U. S. bonds.. National Ba n k stocks Accrued interest* «."*-. Loa na on eol S e r a i s Prfami* a o t e 8 £«"* receivable . alvage claims Total assets.. 53,150 . WJM 3,289 . 10,000 . 10,068 . 1,060 . 2,810 1278,966 LIABILITIES. Jan. 1, 71. unpaid 123,608 Amount of losses Chicago losses— State taxes *70, '71 Required to reinsure at 40 p. o, Required to insure at 60 p. c Beta prem'a on marine Unpaid dividends All other claims Expense of oloaiBz business.. Expense in defending suits.. risks 61,761 "" 8 1,317 55 0W 126,000 . . . . 10,366 $219,876 Not., '71. * 40,912 230,500 5,000 75,756 21,051 8,666 7,560 1,000 Regular Meeting of the Board of Health. . Mortality of tho Past Week- Increase of Typhoid Ferer. a s aupplyof blankets la no; sufficient to meet the J H E FIRE INVESTIGATION demands of the needy, &c. Continued Prevalence of Smalt-Pox-- Criminal Neglect of Physi- cians and Others. A Case of Shocking Inhumanity —A New Smajl-Pox Hos- pital Wanted. mt,raa Total liabilities - - - - $86,694 This company, upon this last exhibit, has assets equal to 56 1-2 per cent of its losses in Chicago, but is offering policy-holders 40 per cent. But the statement on its face is ab- surd. Since January the assets, consisting of cash, bank stocks, and government stocks, have shrunk from $278,966 to $219,867. The $10,000 of loans on collaterals have vanished. Bills receivable, accrued interest, sums due for premiums, salvages—all have perished. Has there been a financial crash in Rhode Island that has destroyed all these assets, and depreciated National Bank stock 15 per cent! The shrinkage has even reached the cash on hand a n l in the hands of agents, and over 40 per cent of the greenbacks have gone beyond the reach of the officers. In January, 1871, th9 company made a sworn statement that its liabilities were but $86,694, against assets of $278,996. On that exhibit it sought business in this city up to the day of the tire. Adding the whole of the reported loss in Chicago, the liabilities made an aggre- gate of $316,794 liabilities, leaving assets equal to 87 per cent of the liabilities. This company is but one of a score have presented a new schedule of assets and liabilities upon which to settle with policy- holders. The statement speaks for itself. We hope that no person will accept the 40 per cent offered by the company, but that the committee of policy-holders will put.this and all other similar concerns in a court of bank- ruptcy, and compel a statement of what has become of the lost assets and a true state- ment of losses. The theory that unearned premiums must be paid in full will not bear the test of judicial investigation, A court of bankruptcy will direct that aU the credit- ors of a company shall share its assetsiwrata. which Slowly but surely justice seems to be over- taking the sinners at Salt Lake. Only a few years since, Brigham Young and his polyg- amous elders, dwelling in the fertile valleys that surround Salt Lake, bade defiance alike to the moral sense of the world and the laws of the nation. Human foresight could hardly divine any condition of things that would break the power of Brigham over his ignorant followers. But at length the necessities of the nation forced the building of the Pacific Railway, and the discovery of rich silver mines in the Wasatch range at- tracted a large crowd of hardy Gentiles who do not recognize the authority of B. Young. The officers of the government began to feel that they now had strength enough to exe- cute the laws of the land. Indictments were found for "lewd and lascivious cohabitation " against Brigham and several of his leading men. The trial was set for next Monday; hut Brigham is absent in the southern part of the Territory, and his law- yera plead for a delay of two weeks. Wheth- er the delay be granted or not Will make no difference in the result. He will not deny the fact that he has a dozen or more wives, so-called, and the conviction may as well come first as last. On condition of his obey- ing the law hereafter, no one will object to a pardon from the President, and there let po- lygamy end. To this conclusion must it come at last, for the forty millions of American people cannot abandon or modify one of the essential elements of Christian civilization to accommodate a few rich Mormons in Utah. The Common Council seems unwilling to take up the subject of excluding frame buildings. Many of the men who are going out seem determined to rote against the ordinance, for the purpose of using it as capital to get back next year, and several of those holding over, in the remote wards, seem to he afraid that somebody will use it against them at the next election. Alder- man Wilce, of the Tenth Ward, deserves the thanks of the public for the zeal and ability •witb. which ha h « pushed this ordinance, and brought his practical knowledge to the consideration of this important ques- tion. The best thing the Com- mon Council can do is let , the subject lay over, to be acted on by the new City Government elected since the tire These new mem ben, it is to be hoped, ai% alive to the necessity of doing what every other large city has loug since done—prohib- iting the erection of any more wooden build- ings. If Chicago is ever to put off the ap- pearance of barracks, and take on that of a permanent city, now is the time to begin. So long as a man is liable to have his perma- nent improvement surrounded by shanties and tinder-boxes, such improvements will be postponed, and the eity remain a lumber yard; and conflagration will be considered one of the institutions of the city, to be paid for in double rates of insurance in companies which will pay ten cents on the dollar of their losses. A minority of a commit tee of the Common Council have repotted that, in their judg- ment, MT. Carsten Blohme was elected Al- derman of the First Ward in the autumu of 18T0, instead of Mr. J. J. Knickerbocker, the sitting member. . Inasmuch as a minority of a committee cannot make a report iu any case, a n d e a n only submit their dissent from the conclusions of the majority b y permis- sion of the majority, and since no such per- mission has been granted, the irregularity and unimportance of« the proceeding are suf- ficieutly obvious. But, in point of fact, Mr. Knickerbocker received thirteen votes more than Mr. Blohme at that election, according to the official count. A recount, made at the instance of Mr. Blohme's friends, resulted in throwing out nine of Mr. Knickerbocker's votes for informality, leaving him still a ma- jority of four. The Ckrhliaa t/itwit (edited, as we learn from an announcement at its head, by Henry Ward Beecher.) says of Gr«tut'a «or«aepoud- ence with Murphy: We heartily wish tbat wJ could say that Genef- al Grant's implicit faith bad removed from our minds the effect ot the^evidence published re- epecting Mr. Murphy. B a t in regard to tbe community at large, tbe Implicit and even warm expressions of such s man us General Grant can hardly fail to ameliorate tbe feetmgs, when they do not ansaether ebanre tbe jadgtnents formed um« the ^bushed evk&aoe. • ^ ^ From which i t is evident that Mr. Beecher either overrates the charity of the public, or a b e r r a t e s its acumen, mt is It reason- able for a public teacher, both of politics and religion, to require of his audience greater faith than he has himself. *' I don't believe, for my own part," says Beecher, " y«t, un- doubtedly, the simple public, with eyes less- open and mouths more so, will swallow it "•J; ' J - - —A* Liverpool policeman was recently sen- tenced. U> are years' penal servitude for »»e«llnr •igst peace. He hadaei»4 a little boetbiaek boy, threatened to take aim into custody, and, on reaching a back street, bad exacted eight pence from the lad as the price of wttlughu* at liberty. ,«T . J»il*t Au«u*t«, Ga^ isaught A M on the 19th inst, aad was only rnrad from destruction by the bravery of a negro prisoner who went out upon the roof-which is so steep as to make the mere act of staading a perilous job—aad drowned tbe flames With buckets ot water. -The Mancheator ps. H.) print works have been staking money *»r too pa*t few yean?, the loss last year amounting to 1106,000. The stock, whiek in 18«5 sold for *2.aoo a share, now sella for tsoo, P«T value being ti.OCO. The fault la attributed to selling agenst. who dictate as to the qualities and styles of goods. — i 1 A regular meeting of the Board of Health was held yesterday afternoon, Mayor Mason in the chair. Present—Inspectors Johnson, Bauch, Hoard, Von Hollen and Beynolds. The report of Sanitary Superintendent Bauoh was submitted, showing the total number of deaths for the week ending November as to have been 182, in addition to a premature and 13 still births. There was an increase of 19 over the preceding week. The ehief causes of death were as follows: Acci- dents, 5; brain disease, 7; cholera infantum, 2 ; consumption, 8; convulsions, li; croup, 3; diphtheria, 3; dropsy, 3; enteritis, 5; scarlet fever, 3; typhoid fever, 24; hydro- cephalus, 4; Inanition, 3; old age, 6; pneumonia, 9; small-pox, 4. Of those under 1 year of age there were 30; between one and two, twen- ty and thirty, and thirty and forty, 12 eaoh ; and between four and five, 2. Of males there were 76; females, 57. On the 19th inst., there were 19 deaths; on the 20th, 19; on the 2lst, 15; on the 22d, 19; on the 23d, 18; on the 24th, 21, and on the 2Ctb. 21. In the Fifteenth Ward there were 19 deaths; in the Ninth, 16; in the Sixth, 14; in the Eight, 13. The largest ratio of mortality was in the Fifteenth Ward, where there the rate was 1 in 1,353 of population; and the smallest in the Thirteenth, where there was but 1 death, or 1 in 9,740. EEMJLBKS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. The Superintendent, in his remarks, states that the increase in mortality is common to this season of the year, and there is nothing unusual In it; in fact, the general health of the city continues good, takiDg into account the peculiar conditions that now obtain here. Compared with last wsek, there were 3 more deaths by accident; 2 by brain disease; 4 by consumption ; 2 by diptheria; 2 by enteritis ; 7 by typhoid fever; 3 by hydrocephalus; 3 by inanition; 4 by old age; 2 by pneumonia, and •2 by small-pox ; while there were two less by croup ; 3 by diarrhoea ; 2 by scarlet fever; 3 by gastritis; 4 by heart disease, and 4 by meningitis. The increase in adult mortality shows that the Are, with its concomitants, to- gether with the severe weather, had a marked influence upon old age. Themost marked increase has been in typhoid fever, which disease has steadily increased for the last mon^h, and, from present indications, will continue to do so, unless many of the houses, particularly in dis- tricts where our foreign population resi ies, are relieved from overcrowding. During the past week several horrid nests have been discovered, and the inmates promptly removed to the bar- racks. THE BARBACKS. One death—that of a child, of croup—occurred in the barracks, the first in four weeks. There was some suftering from cold during the week; but, generally speaking, the health In the bar- racks is much better than among the some num- ber of people of a like elass who live in houses in different parts of the city. Much progress has been made in making the barracks more comfortable, while their sanitary condition has also been much improved. In short, many of the people in them are better cared for, and in better condi- tion, than they were before the Are. No other case of small-pox has occurred In the barracks, and the vaccination and rC*Taccination of all is nearly completed. There is still danger, how- ever, as individuals are daily admitted from the densely crowded houses in different parts of the city, and continued vigilance is necessary. 8MALL-POX. The remarks of the Sanitary Superintendent, on the subject of small-pox, are as follows: During the past week cases of small-pox and vario- loid have been reported at No. 243 Division street, No. IS Burlington street, No. 51 String street, No. 80 Fiak street, Ko. 151 Sheffield avenue, No. 107 Johnson street. No. 291 West Catharine street, Nc». 292 West Twelfth street, No. 35 Buhle street, No. 819 Larrabee street, No. 146 West Division street, No. 699 South Union street No 15*Divisi«n street, No. 180 Indiana street^ >'o 686 South JefferHon street, No, 38 Ruble street, No. 42 Spring street, and at the Marine Hospital. It will be seen from the foregoing that the disease is on the increase, and will continue to be so while medictl men, and those having patients in their houses, neglect to report, and persons fail to protect themselves by vac- cination and revaccination. l a addition to those that live in the city, individuals come here with the malady from the country, other cities, ananUIB1.- grants. Three of those reported this week arrived In this country by the steamer AUemania, but the dis- ease did not develop Itself until alter they had been here several days. In the winter of 1869 X called the attention of this boaid, and, subsequently, that of our delegation In Congress, to the necessity of vac- cinating all emigrants before they leave the old coun- try- No action was taken, anfl it Is to toe hoped that the general prevalence of small-pox throughout the United States at this time will bring about such ac- tion, as it is only in this way that the introduction and spread of themseaM from abroad can be prevented. Quarantine on fhe seaboard amounts to little, and, in this respect, is a failure, at least to a great ex- tent, as tbe disease does not always show it seH in patients when they lesvc the quarantine station. Much speculation has been indulged in with regard to tho source of the infection, but to me it is perfectly piain, as for the last year nearly every steamer that arrived in this country from Europe had smallpox aboard. Of the cases now in this city,four- lif ths are among foreigners. The reason of this is per- fectly plain, as many of them think that it is unneces- sary to vaccinate, or revaccinate, while, at the same time, they are placed in the way of the infection by contact with their friends who have just arrived in tliis country. This same condition obtains at Cincin- nati, where, from October 1 to November 9, 240 died of small-pox, and of these 200 were Germans For this peiiodwe have had only twelve deaths by this disease, including two that were not reported. Small-pox is also quite prevalent at St. Loufs. In both cities the death rate for the last four years, by smallpox, has been much greater than in this city. I deem it my duty to call attention to Dr. M. O. Springer, who reported constipation of bowels as the canse of death of a Mrs. Hall, who died at No. 37 Ruble stieet, on November 14, of what has since proved to be small-pox. Suit has been brought against Dr. Spring- er, but he has left the city. The eiremnstances at- tendant upon,the discovery of the cause of death of tlds woman are as follows: On last 1 hursday morning a man, who said his name was Darwin Hall, presented himself at this office, and requested that I should send him to the Small-pox Hospital. After a careful exam- ination, I detected no evidence of small-pox, but he said ne was satisfied, ft om what he had been told about the symptoms, that he had or would have the disease. I asked liim ~vlv he was so persistent In wisJdng to be sent to the SmaH-pox Hoapta), and nnallv he said that his wife had illed of the disease. I immediately referred to the record and found the case as stated before, and told them so, dii-ecting him, at the same time, to re turn to where he was staying, and I would send there the next day, and, if I found he had small-pox, would have him sent to tho hospital, tout until the disaase had developed itself I would not send him there. I im- mediately sent a inessAgo to Dr. Springer, who re ported at the"omce during my absence, aad acknowl- edged that the case was one ef small-pox, whereupon I directed suit to be brought against him, tout, as I said toefore, he has left the city. On Thursday after- noon a Mrs. Weisner came to tho once,-and insisted that this man (Hall) had the small-pox, and that I should send 1dm to the hospital. I tol* her the same that I told Capt- Hall, and she left • apparently satisfied. Early on FrMav morning «ue reiiirned, apparently exultant, saying that she was certain that the man had small- pox, and that she wanted him taken away. I told her that 1 did no* believe that so sndden a change could oceur, and also told her that I would see him myself, as soon as I could get away from the office. I saw the man between 12 and 1p.m., and found Mm iu a bar*, with no fire-, and but little covering, eyes swollen and bloodshot, difficulty of respiration, with free expectoration of blood, bnt w*.th no marks of Miiisll-pox. The inhumanity that drove the man to the Uai n caused me promptly te deckle that I would go to the hospital and nrepare a room in which no patients had been, ae X dared not send him to an- other hospital after becoming cognizant of the facts, being fully satisfied that he woidd die where he waa from exposure, and that, possibly. I mightprevtst bis being Infected, if the case should 1mtproveto.be smallpox. As soon as* possible he was sent for, and before I left him he was feeling quite eouiforuble, and continued so until le o'clock at night, when the steward saw him, tout on Friday morning he was found dead in his bed, from hemor- rhage. The woman Weisner would listen to ao reason, audio the tact of his spending Thursday night to the bain his death may be attributed. This is certainly enc of the saddest results of trying to hide this disease that has fallen under my observation. The under- taker was also sent for, and he acknowledged that he had been paid to remove the bedding from tbe house, but, as he had the permit of the board for the burial of the corpse, he supposed it was all right. He lias recently arrived here, and there is some excuse for his not calling at- tention to the case. Since that time cases of small- pox have been reported at N a 38 Ruble street, width, no doubt, were infected at No. 37. Another case iu tbe North Division, where the dis- ease was well marked, and attention had been called to »t by ether parties, was set reported until after a sanitary inspector had been sent there, and then a re- port came, «&ted back. In this instance there was an evident desire to hide the case, as the inspector was met in such a way as to confirm him in this opinion. I am satisfied that other eases exist in this city that are BO*reported, and the parties who are withholding the information, not alone tkeattending physician, but all who are cogsijwnt of the faets, are both legally and morally ottxafaftl ia their conduct, bad, when disoov- ereu, which will aasaiwil; *» the ease i$ u uw „„ty of this board to punish them to the utmost extent of the law. The cosdacScf many in this respstt cannot be too sevetety censured, as the only reasontheycan «£"*&\£ 1ki*^iP Ci£ t m u , t ^ fl feeling of prfde or { ^ f c ^ l & F 1 1 1 J? a9m *Vhitertere with their businesspnrsnits. They Utile think thai ^"'ractloa frequently involves loss of life and much «.*wfn!; owMi others. »«« much suffering PIU abuT1>0s>v^?»!0 ;«* i n a t i o t t hT many is to liaed vacoT»Q\ I-1 ^ i f c ^ H f S HPOrtcd this fae£«t^S2£Ki«.*" ? t t , t t r ainstrationofthe effl- ttJL *• ^ c t o a f ' o n and revaeination can be miind than that now presented in this city in the barracks KrJ,-L*i* W*J: ****» have been paced on all the awwss wTwasbrtw is small pox. In addition^btht C 3 fiftH 8*^?m' ^ *"**•* m • S store the s a ^ b t o i d i i S ^ ^ 1 1 6 1 1 ' 6 °f 8 ™" ^ * * K i u rm - - ^ . OTHER BEPORTS. Thei rspfrt «* tbe acting Health Officer w « iw- * T . « 4 *»wiBg that 1st nc4tcee hivo^n^OTvTd and Sll najaanees abated. F s a r t e ^ n ^ r t e r s of fc ^rf% aTld o n e c a l f ^ ^ ™e m n e d ^P 6^ 8® 1"!*^' ^Peelers all reportedan im- proved sanitary condition at the Smacks andTi S r ^ f f l f f i S i S ^ f f ^ T 5 • B E S S work* "\: Ay?g»ggJ?Pof un- much comfort to the pehple, as sunolvini? thA need of fresh meat. soSsriouSy f e l t o F l a t s Sindlsr pmvisions s l w u l d T ^ S e at all S e S racks. Sidewalks should b T K before ths {K3JK11 tke *«•«*> a™* rasU^shouw Ftmraa PBEcAtrTioxs. Thcreportof ^.^mtar^onimittfta, publish- er last week, with reference to ths nro- h S t o e n ' t s ^ 1 ^ ^ " ^ ^ " d J n l e s f a b : hZESr2^^*'i^»SeJi?li(B bounded by Pul- lertcn avenue, Donglas Mace and Western ave- nue, was^refBrred to the Committee^n Ordi- nances, with Instructions to prepare an ordinance in accordance with the report. oroinanoe MEW SMAXL POX HOSPITAL Mayor Mason, Dr. Johnson and Mr Honwi . « « aapolnted a Commit tee to draw iwl'cS^JS^? t£n7to the Common Couneiir sef ttn^oTthMiE ^«5 nL n e«* 8 ity 'or the erection ("aVn^aU Pox **- If you will please publish the following ia your paper, it may help the Belief Committee and others to make up the deficiency : Eighteen yards ot common print will make a cover three yards long and three wlde~wide enough for a double bed, Ssw the breadths to- gether, and lay smoothly between them sheets of oidinary heavy, thick, brown wrapping paper, lap the edges, and stitch through all with woollen or cot ton yarn, and knot the same as an ordinary comforter. One of these eomforters will do^nore to keep out the cold than a pair of common woollen blankets. When they becomssoiled (which, with care, need not be oftener than once in six months or a year), rip one side of tfte cover, out the tacking and re- move the paper j and, after washing and ironing the cover, the same paper maybe replaced, re- tacked, and the seam sewed, when the comforter will ha as good as ever. If ths blankets given out by the Relief Com- mittee could be lined with paper and tacked as above, there would be a great improvement in warmth and a saving of funds. Very respect- fully, Mas. T. H. H. CHICAGO, NOV. 27. Continuation of the Examina- tion of Witnesses by the Board of Police. • Testimony of the Man at ths Crib and Firemen—How the Gas Eeser- :j voirs were Emptied. BUILDING MATERIAL. Chicago Prejudiced In F a v o r st" Brick—An Im- mense l •nanniption Anticipated in the R e - building of the C Itv-Abundance ef Brick Mw teHal In this Vicinity—Location aad Capacity of Chicago B r i c k Vards—Foreign Brick and Their Vest—Profits e l a B r i c k Manufactory. Since the fire the people of Chicago have been greatly prejudiced in favor of brick as a building material After the passage of the new fire ordi- nance, which premises, with all its modifications— to be sufficiently stringent, that prejudice will be* materially strengthened. Brick burned in the in tensity of the heat of the great fire, but with a difference. The sand of a great number was vit- rified, but others came out of the furnace entire, or in pieces, which are already doing service in the walls of new buildings. For two or three years past Chicago has annually consumed for building purposes from 100,000,000 to 135,000,000 of brick. The consumption of brick will be five or six times greater the coming season than that of any previous year. Nearly all of the common brick used in Chicago have been made in the im- mediate vicinity of the city. The capacity of the yards can be increased possibly tp 200,009,000. The manufacture of brisks is not without gen- eral aad historic interest. Bricks have been used from time immemorial in the erection of buildings. Recent ages have improved on the old methods of their manufacture, which can hardly be reckoned among the lost arts. To make the clay cohere it is not now found necessary to use straw, the ab- sence of which increased the hardship of Israe'- itish bondage in Egypt, and caused much Hebrew lamentation. 'CHICAGO BBICK. The material for the making of brick is abun- dant in the vicinity of this city. Just below the surface of the flat prairie on which the metropolis is built, h\a bed of clay that is coexten- sive with the prairie and, of course, inexhausti- ble. Hitherto the extension of the dockage of the city has supplied the yards with nearly all the material they needed. If a lumber dealer want- ed a slip made, ail he needed to do was to adver- tise the fact, and the necessary excavation was made by a firm of individuals who used the clay taken out in the manufacture of brick. Chicago brick are severely criticised by connoisseurs. In the first place, they are not handsome. That must he conceded. In the second place, they contains certain amount of lime, which some-- times slakes after they are placed in the walls, and occasion unseemly rents and fissures. This last objection can be urged only in exceptional instances. It is said that the bricks made in the yards on the South Branch contain a much smaller percentage of lima than those made on the North Side, and that those made on the North Side, beyond Fullerton avenue, are less faulty than the others of that locality. With all their exceptional faults, It may still be said that for common purposes the Chicago brick are excelled by those of few regions as regards durability. The pressed brick made here are said not to be very tine specimens of that branch of industry. Nearly all the yards In the city are along the North Branch and South Branch of the Chicago River. The following yards are located on the SOUTH BRANCH. Capacity. Cokun A Campbell 9,000,000 Olm & Kistner. 9,000,000 Smith & Austin, nearly 8,000,008 DeriickBon. nearly 7,000 000 Tegmeyer & Werdel 4,000,000 Mvulliiip & Barlaad (two yaids.in different localities)........:.... ••-.. 8,000,000 John Whiting 2,000,000 Jones & Canigan , 4,000,000 M. O. Walker 10,000,009 Tally • 4,000,000 Chauncey & Miller, nearly 6,0n9,Oflf Christopher 8,009 009 U. 8. Brick Machine Company e.oooiooo Hayes «ft Co.. , 4,000,000 Charley Bonn 4,000,009 NOSTH SIPE FIRMS. Knstins ADittajan 6,000,00ft Strauss, Hahue & Co (several yards) 10,000,009 A maun <& Co., nearly 6,000,000 Louis Miller 7,000,00ft Brauckmann & Sundmacher 4,000,00ft LaGahn 1,000,00ft L61UCK6.* ., 1,000,000 Proctor , 4,000,000 All these yards ttie brick molding machines of some of the numerous patents aow before the public. The machines average about tile same capacity, whioh is about 18,500 brick per day. They all knead the clay, and mold it, doing away with the CM wheel, and the slow methods 01 shap- ing. Bricks cannot be made when the nights are freezing ; consequently the first baking of bricks cannot he turned out until sometime in May, and operations must cease by the 1st of November, and sometimes earlier. For some years past.briok-making has not been profitable in Chicago, and the manufactvtrero nave had a hard time. Prices have ruled from 16 and 16.25 to 17 per thousand, at which figures there was very little money in the business. The competition has been excessive, and persons, for various rea- sons, being obliged to part with their otock have let It go af ruinous rates. Last season an effort was made by owners of brick-yards to combine for the purpose of keeping up the rates, but the effort was a failure. An attempt to agree to di- minish the number manufactured proved equally futile. Now the brickmakers purpose to reim- burse themselves, the prices l>eing greatly en- hanced, and the prospective supply being so lim- ited. The present modest demand is S14—an ex- aggerated rate, which cannot be maintained after the season opens again. OUTSIDE BRICK. If builders cannot obtain brick made in the city, it is of prime importance that they should be obliged to go no further than is absolutely necessary beyond the city limits. All the brick needed for the reconstruction of Chicago can be easily obtained by those who have purses of sufti - cient length. The nearest places to this city where bricks are now made, are Willow-Spring, Jefferson, Nilea, Winetka, Waukegan, McHemry, Dunton, and Desplaines, all of which villages are within a radius ora few miles of us. Froin these villages transportation will not add materially to the cost of the article. In Wisconsin, bricks are made all the way from Raolne to Sheboygan. Those of Milwaukee have the best reputation, be- ing of regulation size, durable, and of handsome color. The other Wisconsin brick are of smaller size, and of less handsome appearace. The light- colored brick will no doubt be in great demand either for trimming or for entire fronts of build- ings. Brick are also made to a greater or less extent ia every town and village in this and the adjoin- ing States. Agents from various places have been here with their wares, and have met with some success in selling them, although the supply on hand here happened to be enough for the im- mediate demand. Wisconsin brick could be ob- tained here last week for a little more than the price asked for Chicago brick, w ?°JlE°,n^s °.f buildings, considerable pressed Wick will doubless come from New York, Phila- delphia, and Baltimore, that of the two cities last mentioned being the best. The cost herelsteo. A beautiful enamelled brick from Philadelphia is offered for f70 per thousand, suitable for rotun- das and interior walls where exposed. Nearly all the bricks made at a distance must come by rail, and railroad trausportation is ex- pensive. Therefore.the Chicago rebuildera desire I thai the manufacture in thia vicinity, where ma- Jenal is abundant, should be Indefinitely ia- creased. . COST OF MACHIKERT, ETC. The writer has been at the trouble to compile some figures in regard to the expenditures inci- dental to the commencement of the business of brick manufacture, which may be of interest to those interested in money getting. The calcula- tion is designed for a yard capable of jaalrjaj 4,000,000 of brick ia the season. The estimated expenditures are liberal: S55° ;","•• *• t 2.500 Two machines iaoo Four tempering wheels 'soe Leveling ground, planks. WW*. 1,009 Twelve horses to run machines and draw carts! Three carts One hundred molds Sjwks- wheelbarrows \. Harnesses wheeling planks, and covers.. BanifcT horse* «,,i..... Hauling sand and screening (to be done.previous to winter) ...T. Weed (to be done previous to winter).. Other expenses to first kiln. 1 * 0 > * * • » * * * » » * • • . - » * * • • * • • • • • • • • t " i f ; * 2,509 120 400 100 100 300 400 300 800 1.000 5000 me mex- Total -.........*. «16,5» Beceipts: Sale of first kiln (400,000) at 110 per thousand, |4,0C0, from which time it would pay current expenses, and a handsome profit. A liberal jestfinate of expenditures for the season would be 187,000. . Four million bricks at HOier tSmusafcd ta low fleure), would be t40,«o, whioh would leave a balance of profit almost equal te the original ex- penditure. A person- who has capital at his com- mand which he desires to turn over two or three •. J. SWEENY, foreman of the steamer Fred. Gund, made some rather interesting statements. Summed up, they were to the folio wing effect: He had been m the department since 1849. He went to the fire at the third ahum at 10:35 o'clock, exactly an hour and five minutes after the first alarm was given. He drove down Tyler street to Jefferson, and thence to Canal street. Finding the church on fire on the inside, he ceased to play upon it, and turned his stream toBatcham'splaning mill. The church horned down, bnt the mill was saved. Meanwhile a col- umn of fire came upon him from tbe south and drove him away. Then Bateham's mill Was burned, and, as he earnestly believed, the fire spread to the South Side from that point. The firemen were not Intoxicated, but some of the companies were without officers, and were very slow. The fire could not have been extinguished when it reached the South Side, but its spread could have been prevented. He would have taken up a line along the river and saved Frank- lin street. This he could have done, as there was no fire in the gas house, nor Far well's building, nor any where on Market street. The only en- gines he saw on the South Side were the Economy and Winnebago. He admitted that there was no plan of action adopted for fighting the fire, and that when he reached the scene of the West Side conflagration It was pretty well dampened down, and not likely to spread. There was no great amount of wind when he started to the tire, but afterward it blew a hurricane. This was the most important evidence obtained during the morning session. The examination was continued at 2 o'clock, the first witness being JOHN K'MONAGLE. Foreman of the steamer Long John. On going to the fire, he had received orders from Assistant Marshal Shank to go north of the fire, but had "been gradually driven away. On telling Mr. Williams that another fire had started on the South Side, he received orders to g* there at ones, ana going there found the Economy there already. When pumping into the pipes on Mon- day a line of hose was sent across the river. No in- ducement was offered to force a stream, on the coal pile from the engine—Boae. to him positively. The Chief told Mr, Bradjy he could hare a stream of water 6h tile coal pile for an hour. He let the stream run for an hour longer, and then turned It on to the water mains. He denies having heard of any money being paid to his men for a diver- sion of the stream. Mr. Sheridan said citizens were complaining that such was the case, but the witness denied it most unqualifiedly. The water was sent across the coal pile on Wednesday. On that morning he had received his orders to get to work at the foot of Washington street to pump into the water mains, and there the line was at- tached to the coal piles. The horses attached to the Long John were found at Riverside. All his men were with him except Coffin, who did not re- E ort nntil Tuesday morning at the Williams' ouse. He believed that he nad been working with some otlier company, having been told that his engine was burned. All the rest of his men were with him, and sober since the first alarm. He knew that in all the alleys at the back of the banks and big buildings there were very many frame buildings containing carpenter's shops, en- graver's rooms, and so forth. Such was the ease with the Oriental Building, and these caught the sparks shed by the loftier buildings. HENRY ULBICH, a policeman, stationed at the Armory, was called to give his statement of the turning oh* of the gas at the worka. A frame building opposite the gas works took fire, aad a shed of the gas works followed. An officer of the works said, " Boys, let the gas out of the big tank before it explodes," but the policeman could uot state how it was done. The retort house took fire before the Monroe street building. He had seen the big tank go down pretty rapidly, and the smell of the gas was very strong. As soon as the gas was let go, everything took fire In the neighborhood,—the gas works and the Armory and all the buildings. The Armory burned very rapidly. The fire struck the frame building ad- joining the gas works first on the north side of Adams street. As soon as the gas was turned off tbe fire spread against the wind. He had not beard anything explode except a little powder In the Armory. John Doyle, engineer of the steamer Jake Rehm,was examined, but his testimony was of no great value. NICHOLAS DUBACH, Foreman of the Economy, No. 8, was called upon. His testimony was to the effect that a quantity of moss in the Sherman House was on fire, proba bly used for bedding. He reached the scene of the original conflagration in about eight minutes. One man had offered to go shares with him if he would put out his coal. He was a Jew. The Foreman replied that the city had paid him, and he would not work on shares. Beyond this no offer had been made. When he reached the fire there were four buildings on fire. It was about an hour and a half after he arrived there that he had orders to go ahead of the fire. No one had sent him to the South Side, but he had gone over there on his own responsibility when he saw the fire near the Armory. JOHN CAKPION, of the Little Giant, did not know anything of the origin or progress of the fire. His engine was tbe first there. There were three barns and two houses on fire. Benner ordered him back to the alley. He believed that the fire was put out in one barn, and left It. Benner worked with the pipe for half a minute or less. MR. PETER T. BURTI8, Superintendent of the Chicago Gas Light and Coke Company, testified: He was at the gas works during the fire, but did not know where the fire began on the South Side. At that time the coal ahed running north from the retort house was on fire, as well as the coal, ths roof on the lime house, and original metre room. The windows and doors were on fire. They had en about 200,000 feet of gas. The gas waa disposed of before bis arrival. The largest gas holder was just at the "coupling point" it being a telescopic holder. it was uncoupling as he arrived. The valve la the rooms were closed, as well as the Monroe street valve. No other valve had been touched, The instruc- tions were, in case of fire, to'keep the holders down, which were obeyed, and the gas was being conveyed over to the North Side, and to supply the city. The gas remained iu the holder ten days. The fire opened the seams and the gas since leaked out. The holder was got down by opening the valve to the Independent main, which conveyed it to the gas works, on Superior street. That gasometer held 800,008 feet. Mr. Burtis, in answer to a question, what he would do If the North Side gasometer was full, said he would not attempt to transfer the gas thither. There was no chance for escape in the top of the gasometer, except from the man-hole. The North Side gasometer could not have been full at that time of night. The water In the tanks did not Very often foul; when it did get filled it ran off into the sewer. His brother or the night Superintendent raised tbe valve and sent the gas to the North Side. Only a small amount could have escaped. After the breaking of service pipes there was no pressure hut rather a vacuum in the pipes, and the air mixed with it and caused the explosion. As a proof tbat no other valves had been opened, the small gas-holder still retained five feet of gas. The lowering of the gas-holder could not have been rapid. None of the holders were full. Tbt're was no explosion in the works of the comor, uy. There were no means by which the gas oonld be turned into the sewers, nor the water from the basin at its overflow. The coyer of the man-hole was not burned or obarred. The board then adjourned till 10 o'clock this morning. *''•''% ' rteea af • P a t tic ftiarekaase imt 6**«* im ace in which to tmnswet its business In Chicago. ,...- collector of Customs can, if need be, collect tea or twenty millions ia duties in his present re- stricted and inoonvenicnt quarter* at Congress Hall nrovided the government will furnish proper facilities for the storage of goods in bond. At present there is but one honded warehouse In -ChfcagV; « * rateslof storage are high ; insurance is exorbitant: and the situation is inconvenient,jaeceesitating heavy-ex- pease for cartage. One of tfw bMgsst^porting houses here-Mesera. Field, Letter ' make d few suggestions in regard to the importat.'on bmsiness of Chicago, which, I 1 application was made and granted for a con-^, ^1 sure, will me^t with the hearty approval and I Hospital The board then adjourtea. B<« t l t h l . „ . lb the JBrf.ftw 0f The chtcago TWOUNS .• SIR: I learn by this morning's TaiBirtrE that still to see germ of cities of th It is g*& mads at til tors and 1 large api""i ernment bui f.!i.O CT. ' n rfra] a u Vh tub East. rally uBfifira i apprSMJUl 1>- >»i-D t i l l I i i riatioasi for Atefl in C ed He was at a place distant from the homicide. *rade anaccnasaken .No. 4li State strlfet. . . ..—Oregery Peri, indicted for two murders, and thei»e*aoaw«o«4ts»»ted to kill a third party, was mtended to h»ve>eti» tried yesterday. He Disappointed the court and the jury, his c°unf,el',Jo,Hn Ifelgkjgllta interposing a motion to quash Ihe IndkrmeSt. The motion of Mr. Mason was, in effect, a challenge to tbe panel, it P*"1*' claimed that the venue Issued " to the body of Cook County," whereas, by ths organic law creating the Recorder's Court, the jury should have been drafted from persons law- fully authorized to serve, resident 0L„* th® ^ 5fw* ,°* .,. Cafcaao- This point was made under the new constitution extending the Jurisdlefon of the court. Mr. Mason (with whom was VanBurcn) holding that the Re- corder's Court had been continued and not anni- hilated. Tbe Court overruled the motion to quash, on the ground that the county would in- clude the city as the greater would include ths less, wherefore, under the constitution, ths jury being from the county, it was not for him to con- sider whether they were drafted from one or the other ward within the city. Case continued. they now await the prov&ton of £©«<* f» c i' "<* tot the storage of bonded goods. Last year, their importatioas reached fifteen hundred cases, which tbey expect to increase next season to two thousand. Messrs. /. V. Farwell